I'm thinking of "customizing" a 336

[LooseGrouper]

As per the title, I am seriously thinking of getting a Marlin 336 in .30-30 and making a few modifications for the sake of "handiness"...and maybe coolness. I already have an heirloom 336 that I used to take my first buck, so I can't bare to modify it. The project gun will have to be a new (or new to me).

I know that I want a rear aperature sight (no optics), shortest legal barrel, a slightly reduced length of pull (shorter than standar/longer than "youth" model), and a hard butt plate (the soft ones always snag my clothes). I prefer the old-style Marlins without the safety and with the slimmer old-style pistol grip stock and forearm. Here's the dilema:

I could start with a "Spikehorn" youth model (no barrel cutting, replace/modify the furniture, live with the safety) or buy an older full-length (no safety, barrel work necessary, less modification of the wood...maybe, altering a model they don't make any more). Which would be cheapest/easiest, and what do you think about performing surgery on a no-longer-in-production gun?

Also, feel free to share any ideas for additional modification. I lean toward the functional vs the decorative. And pics of your 336s would be cool too!

LG

 

[tcrocker]

I had an Marlin 1895 GS. I went with an Wild west large loop, fire fly front sight, Williams WGRS peep rear sight, and made an leather shell holder/stock rap turned out so nice my brother had to have it noe I can't find another 1895 to make me another.

 

[ECVMatt]

I wish I knew how to post pics...

I just built pretty much what you are talking about. I started with a 75 dollar pawn shop gun. It had a safety, but I removed it and replaced it with a filler plug. The man who makes them escapes me right now, but you can find the info on Leverguns.com. I had the bbl cut to 16 1/2 inches. I coated it w/ alumahyde from brownells and fit a Ramline stock to it. I have it set up w/ Express ghost rings.

Overall, it really like it. I hope to shot it very soon.

Matt

 

[Old Time Hunter]

Just find a Marlin Marauder. They were available in either 30-30 or .35. Cool rifle!

 

[dakotasin]

loose- i've kicked around modifying my 336 extensively, and have decided to go ahead and do it, but it is in line right now, waiting for my custom mauser to get done.

what i would do is start w/ whatever gun i could find. its going to be modified anyway, and saving $35 so you can skip cutting the barrel really isn't enough to worry about in the grand scheme of the price.

so i'd start w/ a 336 chambered to 35 remington, wild west trigger, receiver-mounted peep sight, fire sight front, cut & crown the barrel at 16.25", and i'd keep the wood stock on it unless i could find a high quality synthetic (equivalent of a mcmillan) - most synthetics are heavier than wood, and more flexible. if the gun was safety-equipped, i'd pull the safety and just plug the hole. last thing i'd have done is a coating to get the whole gun uniform in color and a little rust resistant.

 

[rbernie]

My last two pre-safety 336's (on in 30-30 and one in 35 Remington) cost me $200 or less, with decent furniture on 'em and 80% or better finish. Getting the barrel cut down and the rifle refinished should cost $100 or so unless you do it yourself.

I've tried both the XS sights and the Williams sights, and I'm partial to the XS offering - factor in another $80 for the front/rear setup.

You'll have a hard time getting a hard buttplate on a cut-down stock; you might want to look at the Pachmayr Sporting Clays pad. It has a hard/smooth insert at the top to help it mount cleanly. I have this on three field rifles, and like it a lot.

 

[cane]

The person who makes the replacement for the Marlin safety is: Clyde Ludwig, P.O. Box 26156, Wauwatosa WI, 53226-0156. The last price I have for them is $9.95 + $3.00 S&H. They are actually a 5 minute replacement.

 

[LooseGrouper]

Thanks for the inputs, guys. It's reassuring that no one is really giving me too much grief for wanting to modify a no-safety marlin. Now I just have to find the best deal on whichever rifle comes up first.

A couple of folks suggested .35 rem, but I definately want a .30-30. Of course, if the price was too good to pass up...

Regarding the use of synthetic stocks, that's a deal breaker. It's gonna be good old fashioned wood or nothing. I do like the idea of "armouring" the carbine with Black-T, alumahyde, or some similar finish. Of course, the idea of a gun with some honest finish wear is definately appealing on a lever gun.

I'll be going with a leather shell carrier later, after the project is in a useable condition.

Then I'm going to add a forward rail for a scout scope/red dot, single point tactical sling, surefire pressure switch fore end tactical light, and a reciever mounted night vision device with a throw-lever release so I can make it lighter quickly if I need to. Then I'm going to remove the mag tube and modify it to take detachable 30 round mags. Then I'll paint the entire gun tiger strip camo, add a real pistol grip and maybe a vertical forend grip. And a laser. Everyone needs a laser.

I'm only kidding. The paragraph above was the product of a fit of sadism and sarchasm. Just wanted to try and induce a mild heart attach or two. I'm probably just a little too giddy at the idea of getting started on this project.

I'd still love to see some picks if anyone has them. I'll post some of mine once things are under way.

LG

 

[dakotasin]

wow... i'm sure glad you were kidding... i was reading that thinking, 'now...just why in the h e l l would you do that???'

on the 35 thing... i have a 336 in 30-30 and its a fun play gun, but i rarely, very rarely shoot it. i didn't know about the 35 rem at the time i got it, but if i had known i would've gone w/ the 35. nothing wrong w/ a 30-30 - it will kill 'em dead, but i've always wished i went w/ the 35. and... living where i do, hunting where i do, i have no use for a lever gun, anyway, so that's why i haven't just went out and got a 35. only room for one, don't want more...

 

[Rob1035]

haha good one. Although lever actions were indeed 'tactical' a few year (decades?) ago

 

[rbernie]

This is my 16" 30-30. I have a 35 Remington with a 20" barrel and full length magazine, with a XS Sights iron sight set and the same scout scope setup (using QD rings).

 

[LooseGrouper]

rbernie

Nice rifle. What is the diffence in capacity between a "full length" magazine cut down to 16" and one that started as a 3/4 length like yours? If it's only one round, it might be worth giving up a round to not have to fool around shortening a magazine.

How do you like the IER optics? I'm a fan of the scout scope idea, and was only half joking about puting one on my future 336. I actually bought my SOCOM with the idea that I'd put a Leupold or Burris IER on it. Then I fell in love with the ghost ring and forgot the idea (especially since the m1a is so heavy to start with).

 

[rbernie]

The short magazine holds 4 rounds of 30-30 or 5 rounds of 35 Remington. I'm not sure how much work it would take to cut down a long magazine to true barrel length; I took the easy way out and used a Marauder magazine.

I really like the IER/scout scopes for work inside of 150 yards or so. They help the rifle balance better, they leave the receiver unencumbered for easy carry in the brush, and they help ensure an open field of view with the off eye. They are NOT very useful for longer range work, since their limited field of view (relative to traditional scopes) makes it harder to track moving game at distances that require magnification.